2005 VHTRC Women's Half Marathon Trail Run

Report, Results, and Photos

Report

by Margie Schlundt, RD

Heather Trainum Finishing the 2005 Women's Half Marathon

Over thirteen years ago the Virginia Happy Trails Running Club (VHTRC) Women's Half-marathon Trail Run was organized to simply get women running on the trails. Well, the seed that was planted has grown, blossomed, and spread. A field of approximately 200 women started the 13th Annual VHTRC Women's Half-marathon Trail Run to run with their mothers, daughters, or friends, or alone up and down rolling hills and in and out of sunlight dappled by the canopy of trees.

Since there was a new course this year, Heather Trainum, the winner, established a course record with a time of 1:40:33. Laura Nelson finished second in 1:43:11; Selena Smart placed third in 1:47:14. They received Inov-8 shoe certificates and caps for their performances. Winners in the five-year age categories received $25 or $15 gift certificates to Metro Run & Walk or folding chairs. Among our mother-daughter teams, Kathy and Selena Smart finished first in a combined time of 4:45:53. Pat and Therese Murtagh placed second in a combined time of 5:24:03. Deirdre and Francesca Smith finished third in a combined time of 6:01:12. They received specially-inscribed jewelry boxes. For the third year, runners received various stuffed animals or other items from my closet at the last aid station to carry to the finish line and redeem for prizes, such as an Inov-8 shoe certificate, a massage certificate, note cards, etc.

Mom-Daughter Team Winners Selena and Kathy Smart

The volunteers at the aid stations were once again phenomenal. The final performances of the runners would not have been possible without these volunteers. They served homemade cookies, truffles, chips, pretzels, and assorted beverages at the three aid stations along the course. The post-race aid station included ham and peanut butter sandwiches, fried chicken, salads, watermelon, cheese and crackers, baked goods, and assorted beverages.

I would like to thank all the volunteers for their commitment, service, and time. I also would like to thank the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority for its support, along with our sponsors – Metro Run & Walk, Inov-8, Different Light Studio, and Susan E. Petty, Certified Massage Therapist. I again would like to thank Valerie Meyer for race timing and results and Lucia Davidson for handling registration.

Visit Anstr Davidson's electronic gallery of pictures on this site. See you next September!